Boy from the bush is back

RETURNING to Mackay will be bit of a homecoming for country music star Lee Kernaghan.

"According to my dad I was conceived in Mackay so that's where it all began for me," Kernaghan laughed.

His parents were on a country music tour at the time with Rick And Thel Carey.

"I was conceived on the road so you can see why it's part of me and what makes me tick," Kernaghansaid.

Rick And Thel now sit on the CMC Hall of Fame list, alongside Kernaghan.

In the same week in March Kernaghan was inducted, he released The 25th Anniversary Album and followed it up by delivering a scorching live show at the CMC Rocks Queensland festival to a sold-out crowd of 20,000.

He then started his 25th anniversary tour in April.

"It has kicked off with a bang and I'm not seeing it slow down at all," Kernaghansaid.

"I honestly feel like I'm flying at the moment, it has just been one massive show after another."

And performing in Mackay next month will be no different as Kernaghan recalls "over the top" crowds from last time he was here.

The show would be more than a concert, he said.

"It will be a party, a celebration of the birth of boys from the bush."

His favourite thing about touring is playing songs people know and love.

"It's like the annual general meeting of the outback club... it's more than a concert, it's a celebration of the outback," he said.

"The real fun part of the show for me is putting people up on the big screen so they get to join us on stage.

"A 25th anniversary is something that only happens once so I'm going to make the most of it."

The album features duets with James Blundell, The McClymonts, Troy Cassar-Daley, Casey Chambers and his sister Tania Kernaghan.

It also features The Wolfe Brothers who are joining Lee for the entire tour.

"I wanted to make an album that encompassed a lot of the big moments and the awesome people I have been honoured to work with over that period of my career and put it onto a record," Kernaghansaid.

Over his years in the business, Kernaghan said the biggest change in Australian country music came from fellow musician James Blundell.

"Country music went from being played in little town halls to being on semi-trailers filled with production, sound and light shows," he said. "And the change in demographic, it's now an all ages genre of music, so it's exciting to have seen that happen."

From playing small town gigs and talent quests to selling out national tours, Kernaghan hasn't had an 'I've made it' moment.

"I have never had that conservation with myself," he said. "As my dad says, 'son, never believe your own publicity and always remember you're only as good as your last show'. We're all members of the outback club, including me."

After the show?

You'll find Lee Kernaghan with his band in the dressing room trying to find the most hardcore country music song.

"In Canberra the other night we came up with a song called Miami My Amy byt Keith Whitley," Kernaghan said.

"He was a country music start of the 80s who drank himself to death by my god he left some great songs behind."

Favourite song to play?

Flying with the King.

This song is about Kernaghan's flight across Australia with the King of country music - Slim Dusty.